Born of Clay: Phaedrus’ Creation Myth
|
Name: Phaedrus Date: 15 BCE – 50 CE Region: [modern Greece / Macedonia] Citation: Fables 4.14 |
When asked why the Creator of mankind made lesbians
and gay men, this was one old man's answer:
“When creating mankind (a race so
fragile they crumble to dust with the slightest ding), Prometheus molded human
forms out of clay, and created their private parts separately, figuring he'd
add those on the next day. But Bacchus invited him to dinner out of the blue,
and once alcohol was sloshing about in his bloodstream, he staggered home late
at night. Then, half awake and still woozy from the night before, Prometheus
attached ‘lady parts’ on some men and ‘man parts’ on some women. And so now
bodies fit together in ways they're just not supposed to.”
Rogavit alter tribadas et molles mares
quae ratio procreasset, exposuit senex:
“Idem Prometheus, auctor vulgi fictilis
qui, simul offendit ad fortunam, frangitur,
naturae partes veste quas celat pudor
cum separatim toto finxisset die,
aptare mox ut posset corporibus suis,
ad cenam est invitatus subito a Libero;
ubi inrigatus multo venas nectare
sero domum est reversus titubanti pede.
Tum semisomno corde et errore ebrio
adplicuit virginale generi masculo,
et masculina membra adposuit feminis.
Ita nunc libido pravo fruitur gaudio.”
Phaedrus [Gaius Julius Phaedrus; 15 BCE – 50 CE, modern
Greece / North Macedonia] Little is known about the life of Phaedrus. There is
evidence that he was a Macedonian by birth and was brought to Rome as a slave.
Once freed, he devoted his life to writing, and composed the first
comprehensive translation of Aesop’s Fables into Latin.
